Chapter 386 : The Overfriendly Adventurer
Weikel is the leader of the adventurer party called Blue Panthers. They came to Sadola Town with Jack and Luck upon a request to exterminate stone lizards that made a nest inside the magic stone mine.
However, they failed because they encountered the unique, powerful stone lizards called The Mothers. Some of the members managed to escape, but some others, including Luck and Jack, were left behind.
Celine, Nicola, Delica, Nei, and I happened to be at the entrance to the mine when that happened. We asked Delica and Nei to stay at the entrance and help out with the injured people while I entered the mine with Celine and Nicola to rescue the others.
We managed to rescue Luck, Jack, and the other adventurers, but we ended up having to fight the Mothers. We defeated those powerful monsters, but after the intense battle, the mine started to collapse.
However, before we were buried alive, Celine used her portal stone to teleport us to her hometown, the Schultria Village, to escape the collapsing mine.
That was the last time we saw Weikel and his party members.
After that, Weikel and his party members went to Fatia along with Delica and Nei. Meanwhile, Celine, Nicola, and I began our stay in Schultria Village.
Just like the last time I saw him, Weikel was wearing his slightly worn leather armor. I had no idea who the boy next to him was, but he was wearing much better armor than Weikel. He was wearing a shiny metal breastplate with complex engravings and decorations, and he had a one-handed sword that was also heavily decorated. His equipment looked very expensive.
The two of them approached our table.
Weikel was waving his hand while smiling brightly as usual, but the boy was glaring at us for some reason.
No… He’s not glaring at us. To be exact, he’s glaring at… Delica?
I shifted my gaze to Delica.
She was also glaring at the boy.
I could feel an intense air between them.
「I’m glad that you’re doing okay, Mark-bocchan~!」(Weikel)
「It’s been a while, Weike-san. Glad you’re doing okay too.」(Mark)
By the way, when we first met, Weikel mistook me for Celine’s child. That’s why he started calling me ‘bocchan’ (young master).
That misunderstanding should have been cleared up, but he keeps calling me that.
「Nicola-chan, Delica-chan, I’m glad to see you too~!」(Weikel)
I returned his greeting by casually raising my hand, but Nicola and Delica just silently nodded at him.
『Ugh, I really can’t handle this guy… He’s too overfriendly! Onii-chan, he’s all yours!』(Nicola)
After saying that via telepathy, Nicola leaned her head against the table and covered her face with her arms, pretending to sleep, while emitting the “don’t talk to me!” aura.
Meanwhile, Delica looked away as if trying to avoid making eye contact with the boy next to Weikel.
Judging from her behavior toward the boy, I think she knows him.
「Oh? Mark-bocchan, who is the girl over there? Is she with you?」(Weikel)
Weikel noticed there was someone else. He looked at Diadora, who was playing with water in the spring.
She was enjoying herself so much that she didn’t even notice Weikel’s and the boy’s presence.
「Yeah, she’s our friend.」(Mark)
「Really!? She’s so cute! Can you introduce her to me, please~?」(Weikel)
He’s kinda annoying, but he’s not a bad guy.
I can introduce Diadora to him to some extent. I doubt she will like him, though.
「I don’t mind introducing her, but first, will you tell me why you’re here? I thought you had already gone to another town.」(Mark)
Weikel and his party members are not originally from this area. They usually travel from town to town to complete the missions with high rewards, so I thought he had left Fatia long ago. I wonder why he’s still here.
「Oh? Do you reeeeeally want to know~?」(Weikel)
「Uhh… Yes, please.」(Mark)
「It’s gonna bring the mood down since it’s not a pleasing story, but if you reeeeeally, really want to hear it, then it can’t be helped. After all, I can’t refuse Mark-bocchan’s request, can I~?」(Weikel)
I honestly don’t wanna hear it that much, but it would be a lie if I didn’t want to know what happened to him at all.
「It will be helpful if you keep it short.」(Mark)
「Alright. Everyone, please listen. You’re about to hear a sad, saaaad story about my adventure party, the Blue Phantersー」(Weikel)
Weikel began telling me his story with gestures and hand movements. Although he was telling a painful story, he was as energetic as usual.
It seemed that things hadn’t been going well for Weikel and his party members since they failed their mission at Sadola Town.
They had encountered a variety of misfortunes, such as members being seriously injured while fighting monsters and failing multiple quests from the guild due to unfortunate accidents. Recently, they were tricked by a nasty woman which resulted in them losing a lot of money.
They were planning to go to the capital in the near future, but they had to cancel it for the time being because they didn’t have enough money.
To make as much money as possible quickly, the party members temporarely went their separate ways, and each one of them started taking the quests that could be done solo.
Amidst all the misfortunes, Weikel managed to get a lucrative solo quest from a rich family in Fatia, and the quest was to escort the boy next to him.
「So that’s what happened. Your party has been through a lot.」(Mark)
「Yeah, but The Blue Phanters is not going to end here! We’re aiming for a comeback and we’re going toー」(Weikel)
「ーEnough chit chat! Why are we wasting time here?」(boy)
When Weikel raised his fist, was about to say something cool, the boy, who had been standing next to him with a sullen face, suddenly interrupted him.
「A, ahh… Forgive me, Luard-sama. Mark-bocchan saved my party members in Sadola Mine, and I hadn’t seen him since then. I just wanted to talk with him for a biー」(Weikel)
「ーI don’t wanna hear it! You know I’m busy!」(Luard)
「Y, yes, I understand…」(Weikel)
In contrast to Weikel, the boy doesn’t seem friendly at all.
He may be Weikel’s employer right now, but I think he’s too harsh to him.
Even an extroverted, over-friendly person like Weikel wouldn’t dare to talk back to him.
「Well then, Mark-bocchan. As you can see, I’m on a mission right now. I’ll catch you later.」(Weikel)
「Alright, be careful.」(Mark)
「Let’s go, Luard-sama.」(Weikel)
「Hmph!」(Luard)
The two turned around and walked away, heading toward the forest.
However, after a few steps, the boy called Luard suddenly stopped.
「No… Actually… Change of plans!」(Luard)
「Eh? What’s the matter, Luard-sama?」(Weikel)
Without answering Weikel’s question, Luard turned to us and pointed his finger at Delica, who was still looking away.
「You! The tomato girl over there!」(Luard)
「……」(Delica)
Delica flinched, but she was still trying not to make eye contact with the boy.
「Ignoring me, huh? What a rude girl… Oi, Delica! I’m talking to you!」(Luard)
「……Tsk… What do you want?」(Delica)
Giving up, Delica clicked her tongue and glanced at him.
「I never thought you would make it to the kobolds’ territory. It annoys me so much!」(Luard)
「Hmph! Is that so? Then? What are you gonna do about it, huh?」(Delica)
「Don’t pretend to be a fool in front of me! You know what I want, don’t you? Let’s duel!」(Luard)
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